The use of insoles is increasing within the running population due to their associated benefits such as reduction of plantar pressures and pain, as well as improvement of the mechanical function of the lower limb. However, in contrast to custom-made insoles designed by a podiatrist in order to face a specific need, the use of prefabricated insoles commercialised without medical prescription is arising a great controversy. The aim of this study was therefore to analyse the effect of insoles (prefabricated, custom-made, control) and the fatigue state on spatio-temporal, plantar pressure, impact acceleration, comfort and fatigue parameters during running. Forty participants (20 men and 20 women) came to the lab on three occasions (each of them corresponding to an insole condition) where spatio-temporal parameters and plantar pressure (Biofoot®), tibial and head impact acceleration (Sportme...
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The use of insoles is increasing within the running population due to their associated benefits such as reduction of plantar pressures and pain, as well as improvement of the mechanical function of the lower limb. However, in contrast to custom-made insoles designed by a podiatrist in order to face a specific need, the use of prefabricated insoles commercialised without medical prescription is arising a great controversy. The aim of this study was therefore to analyse the effect of insoles (prefabricated, custom-made, control) and the fatigue state on spatio-temporal, plantar pressure, impact acceleration, comfort and fatigue parameters during running. Forty participants (20 men and 20 women) came to the lab on three occasions (each of them corresponding to an insole condition) where spatio-temporal parameters and plantar pressure (Biofoot®), tibial and head impact acceleration (Sportmetrics) were measured before and after a fatiguing run. Moreover, the perception of comfort of each insole and the fatigue perceived during the fatiguing procotol was also analysed.
The custom-made insoles reduced the plantar pressure under the hallux (45%), the medial (36%) and lateral arch (40%) compared to the control condition; as well as under the medial (31%) and lateral heel (53%) compared to the prefabricated insoles. Furthermore, the prefabricated insoles reduced the plantar pressure under the toes (35%), the medial (31%) and the lateral arch (31%) compared to the control condition. Also, the custom-made insoles decreased the head impact rate compared to the prefabricated insoles (11%) and the control condition (2%), while the prefabricated insoles increased the tibial acceleration rate (20%). Finally, both types of insoles (custom-made and prefabricated) were perceived more comfortable than the control condition.
In conclusion, the use of custom-made insoles reduces the plantar loading under areas that are of great interest to runners, what supports their use as an effective strategy to reduce plantar pressures and their potentially role as a strategy to reduce overuse running-related injuries. On the other hand, the use of insoles did not modify impact acceleration and therefore they should not be prescribed with the aim of reducing these impacts. However, in those situations where an insole intervention is needed (to reduce plantar pressure, pain, or correct the mechanical function of the lower limb), the custom-made insoles may provide a greater reduction of the impact accelerations compared to the prefabricated insoles. Moreover, the use of insoles is perceived as comfortable, what favours the adherence to their use.